info / advice needed re c-section

Js_Other_Half

I struggled with getting a drink as i was in a side room with no one to help. Staff rarely popped in and I felt I couldn't buzz them just to get them to pass me a cup. I've since come across this drinking system, and if I ever have another child I'd definitely consider getting one.

http://www.hydrateforhealth.co.uk/maternity.html

Mely

tiamai_d wrote: »

And they look dead sexy with your support stockings! :rotfl: And usually your boobs hanging out too. :rotfl:

Yes and cabbage leaves on sore boobs - not a good look! :rotfl:

desdemona01

A bit further along the line once you're home with baby. I really struggled with bathing him & had to wait for DH to be around to lug the baby bath etc. Kneeling on the floor & lifting a baby in & out of the bath ain't easy pos c-section. Until....... I started to bathe him in the kitchen sink! Perfect height, no need to bent, brilliant. Obviously, you have to move the washing up to one side LOL. I put a small towel in the bottom of the sink & had the changing mat with towel & all the necessary equipment to hand, made life a lot easier. Good luck!
Desdemona

Mely

spendaholiceejit wrote: »

I had a fab C-Section experience. But this was the one thing I noticed different from a natural delivery. I snapped back in to shape after the natural delivery, but with the surgery on my muscles I have never regained a toned stomach. I lost the weight but I never lost the sag! The wound healed no problems, but I have never got back a flat stomach.

Best of luck! It's a wonderful experience in its own way.

Im the same...with my first 2 births, the first one a forcepts birth (MUCH worse than a c section any day! imho), and then the 2nd birth which was natural. I snapped back into shape. But i then had the 2 c sections due to them being in difficult breech positions, and from when i had the first c section ive never had a flat tummy and have the sag! It hasnt gone no matter what exercise ive done. So i am resigned to it now lol. But i also agree that a c section is a wonderfull experience in its own right,if you are awake at the time:D

Mely

desdemona01 wrote: »

A bit further along the line once you're home with baby. I really struggled with bathing him & had to wait for DH to be around to lug the baby bath etc. Kneeling on the floor & lifting a baby in & out of the bath ain't easy pos c-section. Until....... I started to bathe him in the kitchen sink! Perfect height, no need to bent, brilliant. Obviously, you have to move the washing up to one side LOL. I put a small towel in the bottom of the sink & had the changing mat with towel & all the necessary equipment to hand, made life a lot easier. Good luck!
Desdemona

Why didnt i think of that - excellent idea!

jcr16

i often used a sink as a baby bath. espesh when hubby was working late and i needed to bath all 3. he older two would go in bath and i'd give baby a bath in the sink. that way i could keep eye on them all. then once baby had bath he would be dried and dressed and go into baby bouncy seat while i saw to the others. when baby was older i would then put him in bath with other two.

Amanda65

I had c-section with DS (now aged 14!!) and as soon as he was checked he was brought up to the head end and held on me while they stitched me back up. I fed within half and hour and although I was jabbed with morphine immediately after giving birth, I refused any more and coped with just paracetomols for pain relief and was fine.

I was up and walking the next day (straight as possible) and didn't have any movement problems - just take things slowly.

My SIL had my nephew in November by C-section and has had a fabuous pillow called 'My Breast Friend' (I kid you not :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:) and said it really helped with feeding while her tummy was still sore (I used a triangular pillow) . If you Google it there are several sites selling them.

On the plus side, you've not had your nether regions stretched completely out of proportions (had DD's normally and believe me, this is NOT pleasant), your six week check is just a quick look at your scar and a feel of your tummy, and you don't have to pluck up the courage to go to the loo for 3 days after giving birth :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

tiamai_d

I just didn't bath them lol! Liked the new baby smell too much to wash it off. DS1 was the only one who had a bath before he was 2 weeks old, and that was because he did a meconium poo in his incubator and managed to get it everywhere. Luckily, the nurses took care of it!

squoog

I have had 3 sections, 1 for breech baby whilst in labour, 1 emergency due to knot in cord and 3rd one for twins who were breech and transverse!
I am overweight and I would wear bikini style pants with a folded tissue over the elastic to keep the wound clean and dry. Never had any problems with healing.
Pain relief - wait and see what you need, the spinal or epidural will cover you for a while and they will probably give you a pessary and morphine whilst still in theatre. I learned that morphine doesn't agree with me and refused it with my last section. It was a much better experience, I wasn't irritable and depressed!
I had no pain relief at all once I left theatre for any of mine, so pain really varies from one person to another.
My one regret was that I didn't insist that the screen they put in front of you was lowered so I could see the babies coming out of me. They did wrap them up before bringing them to me and I struggled to try and get the towels open to look at them. They do it because the theatres are quite cool in comparison to where the baby has just come from!
Whatever you do ask for help! Especially with breastfeeding. And enjoy the experience!
Good Luck!

beccam

Think everyone has covered all the questions you asked. I too has CS for breech baby after 2 failed ECV attempts, currently considering my options as baby no 2 is due in June and not sure of another section or VBAC.

Anyway my top tips.....
~ sort your own bikini line before Monday! Last thing you need is razor rash or bad regrowth when your scar is healing, I opted for professional waxing on the Sat (CS on Monday) as I couldn't see my own groin to apply creams!:o Just make sure they take the hair low enough or you will end up with an NHS razor!!

~Granny pants have been well discussed and I shall expand on this further by suggesting cheap granny pants that you can throw away if they become soiled. Also although you want this pants to be big enough to avoid causing discomfort on the wound they need to be fitted enough to hold your very large sanitary pads in place!;)

~ following on from Granny pants, the Simon Cowell trouser......HIGH waist/loose waist, anything that was previously "under bump" will feel like it is cutting you in two. Consider dresses as an alternative.

~Nightdresses rather than PJ's.....for similar reasons to the pants/trousers and also because there is nothing worse than having nice new jammies ruined by bleeding from down below or any ooze that might come from wound.

~Take all the painkillers you are offered, especially before you attempt to get out of bed for the first time, I know too many people who felt fine, refused pain relief, hopped out of bed and hit the floor 2 secs later!
For me I had CS on Monday morning and was in bed until Tues morning so I took painkillers early hours of the morning before they removed my catheter and before I tried to get up. Also helped that I had taken them before the nice friendly midwife asked could she look at my wound and then proceeded to rip off the dressing!:eek:

~Be aware that SOME (not all) people can suffer from constipation after CS, this can be from the bowel not liking the op, the spinal slowing things down, the painkillers and also if you need any iron tablets after. Also be aware that my method of eating copious amounts of fruit salad and grapes to try and remedy this can lead to a BF baby having extreme poos!!:o
When you feel even slightly sluggish in that department ask a kindly midwife for some lactulose, they like you to be regular before sending you home!

~ Take it easy! Remember that a section is major abdominal surgery and although it is advised to gently exercise after, you do not have to be superwoman. There are no prizes given out for the first one to hit the shops after section so concentrate on yourself and your baby.
DO NOT do what I and many others have done where you feel like you must be on top of everything and end up doing yourself an injury. Mine was trying to lift a basket of wet washing off the floor after emptying the machine......hubby had to lift me and the washing off the floor!:o
Just enjoy the fact you have the perfect excuse to take it easy for awhile!

~ Accept all help you are offered, if you have time before Monday do some batch cooking to fill up the freezer with "ready meals". Either pre order an online shop to be delivered after you get home or write a list in advance.
When people come to visit don't be afraid of asking them to do something helpful rather than you "hosting" them. My favourite line was "would you like a cup of tea?"......"well stick the kettle on then, I'll have one too":rotfl:

Sorry I've waffled now, above all try and relax and enjoy and best of luck for Monday!!:j